Vacuum cleaning device



Dec. 4 1923. v

w. v. ORR

VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE Original Filed April 19, 1912 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 'W. ORR

VACUUM CLEANING DEVICE Original Filed April 19, 1912 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 4 1923.

Dec. 4 1923.

' W. v. ORR

VACUUM CLEANING DEVIVOE Original Filed April 19, 1912 a Sheets-Sheet s Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM V. ORB, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.-

vacuum ctnanme nnvrcn I Original application and April 19, 1012, Serial no. 681,966.- 1mm no. 1,210,522, dated January 2, 1917.

i To an wkomit may concern:

Be'it known that I, WILLIAM V. 01m, a citizen of-the United States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Cuyahogaand State of hio, have'invented a certam new and useful Improvement in Vacuum Gleaning Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference belng had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaning devices, and has for its object the provision of an apparatus of this nature of simple and compact form and eflic-ient operation; the provlsion of means in a device of this character whereby the air stream is directed along the surface of the floor covering, the better to dislodge litter lying thereon; the provision of an improved. brushing a aratus whereby the dirt particles may ossened from a textile surface and delivered into the air. eurrent without becoming entangled"ih 'ttjle brush; the provision in a suction cleanfnozzle of a separate brush chamber oim tedwith the suction passage only in"t 'eflower part thereof; the provision of new and improved means for adjusting the operating parts with reference to the surface on whlch they are used; while further objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following description and claims.

In the drawings accompanyin and form- .ing a part of thls application, have illustrated certain simple embodiments of my. said invention, one of the same beingpopid from my prior application filed April 19, 1912, Serlal No. 691,966, (now Patent #1,2l0,522, granted January 2, 1917) of which the present application is to that extent a division; and the remaining embodiments being nowillustrated for the first time; although it will be understood that other constructions than those specifically described. and illustrated herein may be employed within the scope of my inventive idea, In these drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vacuum cleaner constructed in accordance with my invention, a pxortion of the casing being broken away to s ow the arrangement of the air passages, and a part of the bag and handle being omitted; Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of a complete vacuum cleaner made in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is arii detail view showing the caster adjustment; Fig. 3 is a side. eleva- Dlvided and this application filed November 25, 1916. Serial 1T0, 183,340.

tiona'l view of a portion of the brushing head illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a part of the gear casing being broken away so as to show the method of driving the brush; Fig.

4 is a vertical, transverse, cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and disclosing the manner of supporting and adjusting the gears; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of cleaner embodying my improvements, a part of the casing being broken away; Fig. 7 isa side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 isa vertical, longitudinal,

sectional view through the device shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the cleaner shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a bottom Carried by the rear end of the fan casing are suitable brackets 5-5, to which are pivoted the arms 6 of the handle 7 whereby the device is operated, said handle also preferably serving as a conduit for the wires 8 whereby energy is conveyed to the motor. Secured to the outlet pipe 3 is the lower end of the porous dust bag 9, the upper end of "which is suspended from the handle 7 in any convenient manner. The motor casing is provided at its rear part with a suitable supporting roller 16. The forward face-of the fan casing is provided with a substantially central aperture for the admission of air tothe fan and with spaced threaded apertures for the reception of thumb screws '20 by which the various nogzles or collectijng attachments may be .afiixed thereto.

The brushing head which I have here shown comprises a pair of vertical boxes 25 and 26 having closed tops and open bottoms as shown in Fig. 5. The outer walls of these boxes are represented at 25 and 26 respectively, and their inner walls at 25" and walls are preferably substantially vertical as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but their forward edges are inclined at the angle which is to be given to the forward side of the cleaner head. These walls are parallel to each other and to the motor axis at their rear portion but are bent outwardly at their forward ends so as to converge to a point at 27. The boxes 25 and 26 are secured together by means of a casing plate 28 of sheet metal having an inverted V shape, the forward side of this plate bein secured to the forward edges of the we ls 25 and 26. The rear side of said plate isnotched as at 29 so as to fit between the walls 25' and 26 This construction provides an inverted troughshaped casing having at each end a Vertical,

rearwardly-projecting ear, the outer face of which is substantially flush with the end of the casing. The edges of the plate 28 are horizontal and are preferably rolled as at 31 both for the sake of stifiness and for the purpose of preventing their catching in the carpet or other fabric upon which the device is used. These edges constitute the lips of the inlet mouth into which the carpet is raised by the suction.

The inner faces of the walls 25" and 26 are also formed with flanges 33 spaced from the plate 28 but converging toward the same as they approach the lower edges of the walls, and to these flanges is rigidly secured,

as by riveting, a second ll-shaped metallic plate 34: constituting a brush shield. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, the apices of theseplates are spaced apart a considerable distance, while their free edges or lips approach very closely together so as to define the narrow inlet slits 35 and 36 at the forward and rear sides of the casing respectively. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the length of the slit 35 is greater than that of the slit 36 from the fact that the slit 35 extends between the outturned ends 27 of the boxes 25 and 26, whereas the mouth 36 is limited to the space betw%n the inner walls of these boxes. Furthermore, the lips of the plate 34: are terminated at a point slightly above the lips of the plate 28 as shown at 37, {Fig.e) for a purpose that will be hereafter explained. The upper or apex portion of the plate 28 is formed with an aperture 40 around which is secured the flange 41 of an elbow 422, the horizontal arm of which is formed with a plate 43 adapted to be secured to the forward face of the fan-casing 2 by means of the thumb screws 20, above mentioned.

In order to pnevent the formation of dead alr spaces atthe ends of the chamber defined by the plates 28 and 34, I have shown between these plates at each side of the aperture 40 an angular deflecting tion 45, the ends of which be closely adjaweb or partinevacce cent to the ends of the slits 35 and 36, and the middle or apex portions of which lie closel adjacent to the sides of the aperture 4.0. lso in order to efiect the uniform distribution of suction throughout the entire length of the slits, l have shown deflecting members 46-,46 located in the passageways. However, the present invention is wholly independent of these devices, which may or may not be used Formed in the walls of the boxes 25 and 26 is a horizontal row of aligned vertical slots 50 (only one being shown, in the inner wall 26, Fig. 3), through which is projected a shaft 51 having at its ends the floor-wheels 52, preferably rubber tired in the usual manner. Formed in the inner walls 25 and 26 of the boxes at points vertically above the slots 50 are other vertical slots 53 each of which receives the shank of a thumb screw 54: to the inner end of which is secured the upper end of a vertical link 55 the lower end of which surrounds and forms a bearing for the shaft 51. The surface of the plate adjacent to the slot 53 is'preferably ribbed or corrugated as at56 and the thumb screw provided with a similarly corrugated washer 57 whereby the link can be firmly secured in position and the brushing head secured at a fixed distance above the door as will be obthe cylindrical brush 62, while the portions thereof included within the limits of the boxes 25 and 26 are journaled in links 63, the other ends whereof surround the shaft 51. Inside one of these boxes as 26, the shaft 61 is provided with a pinion 6% which meshes with the gear wheel carried by the shaft 51. In Fig. 5 l have illustrated two links 63 one at each side of the pinion 64%, although it is robable that one of these links will frequent y be omitted. The upper portion of each of the walls 25 and 26 is formed with a vertical slot 66 above the adjacent-end of the shaft 61 and through this slot is projected a thumb screw 67, the

covered by a corrugated washer 69 similar to the washer: 57 above mentioned and serving to permit the adjustment of the height of the brush 62.

The links-55, 63-and 68 constitute a frame to which the carrying wheels and brushing mechanism are journaled, and by adjusting the same the relation of the head and brush to the working surface and to each other can be varied without disturbing the driving relit) amaooe lation between the brush and wheels. The frame is secured in such adjusted position by the screws 53 working in the slots 54 and by the links 68, bolts 67, and slots 69. The inter-connection of the shafts 51 and 61 keeps the same always paralleland at a fixed distance apart insuring the easy and noiseless running of the'gears, while the enclosure of the gearing prevents the same from catching upon furniture, clothes, or fingers, or from becoming clogged with the dirt passing through the device. This method of gearing also efiects the rotation of the brush 62 in the direction opposite to the motion of the wheels of the device and thus throws the dirt particles forward. The air rushing through the slits and 36 picks up these particles and carries them to the bag 9, while if any particles are not caught up by the air the first time they are lifted by the brush, they are promptly recovered by the brush a' second time and delivered to the air stream. The location of the inner lips above the outer lips afi'ords constant communication between the slits and brush chamber, so that dirt particles agitated by the brush may be thrown directly into the path of the air stream. Also the rush of air-horizontally over the carpet is very efiective while sealing contact of the lips with the carpet is prevented. The function of the casing 34 is two-fold, in that it prevents the dirt and dust from being drawn directly into and through the brush thus avoiding the clogging and fouling of the brush, and that it also increases the effectiveness of the device by concentratin the suction upon the two narrow slits 35 an 36 instead of distributing thesame over a lar e area.

have shown the caster 16 as adjustably attached to the motor casing, asby having its shank '17 slidably mounted in the supporting bracket 15 and releasably secured by the pin 18 carried by the spring 19 and engaging any one of several apertures in that shank, and in adjusting the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5. it is preferable to adjust the wheels 52 and the caster 16 simultaneously, so that the bottom of the casing or head may always remain parallel with the floor.

In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, I have shown a modified construction of cleaner in which a difi'erent form of brush chamber is employed together with modified means for driving said brush. In these views, 1', represents the motor casing, 2, the fan casing, 7, the

handle. and 9, the dust bag. This fan' chamber is supported in substantially horizontal position with its axis arranged in a fore and aft position, and projecting from the forward wall of this fan chamber is a laterally-flaring, downwardly-inclined, collecting nozzle, having an upper wall and a lower wall 71, includingbetween'them the axial inlet opening 72 of the fan chamber.

The wall 7 is preferably made with a uniform uninterrupted slope down to its lower most edge, where it terminates in a horizon tal lip 73. The wall 70 extends forward at zontal and level with the lip 73 excepting at their forward edges where they are sloped upwardly to meet the lip 74 as shown at 76.

"The result of this construction is to provide a narrow horizontal intake slot or crevice 77 across the front of the machine, the remainder of the nozzle being closed against the lateral inrush of air.

Supported inside this nozzle, immediately above the plane of the inlet mouth, is a filler of sheet metal orother suitable substance, the same being secured in any suitable manner, rivets 78 being here illustrated. This.

filler preferably comprises a tapering portion 80 secured inside the neck portion of the nozzle and depending in a long sweep forming a throat portion which terminates in a kind of curtain 81, whose lower edge extends from one side of the nozzle to the other and is spaced above (and in the present embodiment slightly forwardly of) the lip 73 to define an inlet slot of cons derable suction. Immediatelyin front of this curtain there is provided a substantially semi-cylindrical chamber 82 extending from one side of the nozzle to the other for the reception of a, brush; and in front of this chamber the plate extends forwardly in a substantially horizontal manner to the lip 74 in the form of a kindof bridge 83 to the lower face of which are attached theteeth 84.

Each of these teeth consistsof a diagonally disposed late or rib of considerable length carried y the bridge 83 and extending downwardly beyond the lip 74, and preferably substantially to the plane of the lip 73. The teeth on opposite sides of the center line are inclined in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 10, each'being generally parallel to the side wall of the nozzle to which it is nearest; and the width of the teeth is preferably rather small. but their I length and inclinationis such that each overlaps the other to some extentas shown in Fig. 10, excepting the middle teeth which may be conveniently spaced apart for the passage of heavier objects which'are customarily taken up through the center of the machine. The .result of this; construction is that air rushing through the crevice 77 and across the top of the carpet tends to blow V first one way and: t

little balls which can be picked up by the air stream.

The construction heretofore described will produce a very eficient' and satisfactory cleaner even without the employment of brushing devices of any kind, and such brushing devices, when employed, may be of any suitable or desired nature. The type shown herein consists of a rotatable body 85 journaled substantially concentrically with the chamber 82, the filler serving as a shield forthe brush similarly to the shield 34 in Figs; 1 to 5, and the rotatable body having one end connected to a shaft 86 suit-' ably journaled in the end wall of the chamher. The outer end ofv this shaft traverses a hollow casing 87, and is provided between the walls of this casin with a pinion 88. This casin is of a flat e ongated nature with parallel si e walls betwecn which are journaled an idler gear 89 meshing with the pinion 88, and a driving gear 90 meshing with the idler gear. The hub of the driving gear projects through the inner wall of the gear casing and is formed with clutch teeth shown at 91 in Fig. 10.;

Journaled to the bottom of the nozzle is a rock shaft 92, having crank shaped ends 93 upon'whose extremities are journaled the floor rollers 94-94. Suitable means are provided for rocking this shaft to raise and lower the nozzle with respect to these rollers,

I the means here shown comprising a set screw 95 resting upon the cranked portion of the shaft for moving the same-in one direction and a coil spring 96 wound around the shaft for moving the same in the opposite direction. The face of one of the wheels 94 is vformed with clutch teeth complementary to the teeth 91, and arranged to cooperate therewith in driving the said brush, there bein suficient looseness between these clutch mem rs to permit the necessary adjustment in the height of the nozzle, which is not very great.

In the precedi illustrated the brus chamber as formed by a separate sheet metal filler inset within the nozzle, but I do not confine myself to such a construction, since all of the advantages of my invention can equally well be secured by forming the brush chamber integral with the nozzle itself". Thus in Fig. 11, the upper wall 100 of the nozzle is formed at its lower part with ajpair of spaced depending arallel flanges 101, 102, defining between t cm embodiments, I have aeaaeoa is preferably located slightly lower than thelip 101, and: is spaced from the flange 102 sufficiently to form a narrow inlet slot which extends from one end of the nozzle to the other. Within the chamber 103 is mounted a brush 106, here shown as of the stationary t pe.

lnall of these constructions, the formation of thebrush chamber separate from the main passageway prevents the lint and dust from being drawn into and'ent angledwitli the brush; the termination of the chamber wall at a point near. but spaced above the working surface inside of the nozzle, causes a flow of air alongthe top of the working surface which exhibits a peculiar efiiciency in removing dust and litter; the concentration of the air stream in this narrow slot causes it to be, distributed with appreciable uniformity throughout the entire length of the nozzle, and so increases the velocity as greatly to enhance the lifting power of the air-stream; and sealing contact of the nozzle with the floor fabric is always prevented; however, it will be obvious that these results could still be secured even though the arrangement and construction of the device were changed materially from anything shown herein, wherefore I do'not restrict myself to the details here exhibited, except as the same may be specifically recited in the claims hereto annexed, or rendered necessary by the prior state of the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus for.

a shield interposed between said brush. and one of the walls of said mouth to form a narrow intake 0 ening, thelower edge of said shield term nating at a'higher level than the lips of said mouth.

2.. In avacuum cleaning apparatus for floors and the like, in combination, a head having a downwardly opening mouth, floor engaging wheels carried by said head and journaled upon an axis transverse to the direction of movement thereof, a cylindrical brush supported withinsaid mouth upon an axis substantially parallel to that of said brush supported within said I. mouth, means for revolving said brush, and

wheels, gearing between said wheels and brush and a shield surrounding said brush and spaced from the walls of said mouth to form anarrow intake opening at the side of said brush and substantially parallel thereto, said shield depending below the center of said brush but terminating above said mouth. v

3. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, in combination, a head having a downwardly opening horizontal mouth, a rotatable brush I ournaled in said mouth, a pair of supportabove the plane thereof.

mg wheelspivoted -to said head, driving connections between said'wheels and said brush, means for adjusting said wheels and said brush separately towards and from the plane of said mouth and a suction connection opening intosaid mouth within and slightly 4. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, in combination, a head having a downwardl opening horizontal mouth, a rotatable brus journaled in said mouth, a pair of supportmg wheels pivoted to said head, gearing nozzle so as to support said nozzle at difl'er-' ent heights above the working surface, and suction producing means operatively connected to said nozzle.

- carried by said casing and 6; In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a casing havin'g a collectin nozzle formed with a downwardly facing mlet mouth, a rotatable brush journaled in said casing, a supporting device adjustably secured to said casing, carrying wheels journaled to said supporting device one at each side of the mid-point of said nozzle and-operatively connected to said brushing means, means for holding said supporting device in varying adjusted positions whereby said nozzle may be supported at different heights above the floor, and suction reducing means operatively connected to said nozzle.

7. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a supporting frame carrying wheels journaled to said frame, a casing mounted on said frame and having a collecting nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet mouth, means for holding said casing in varyingradjusted positions with reference to said ame, whereby said inlet mouth may be supported at difierent heights above'the floor brushingdevices operatively connected'to said carrying wheels, and suction producin means operatively' connected to saidnoz e-. I

-8. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus,-a casing having an elongated nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet mouth, a movable frame carried by said casing, brushing mechanism carried by said casing, carrying wheels journaled to said frame, one adjav r cent to each end of said nozzle and operatively connected to said brushing mecha-' nism, and means for holding said frame in any position to which it may be moved 'wherebysaid nozzle will be. supported at combination, a head having a horizontal downwardly opening mouth adjacent to the floor, floor engaging wheels carried by said to the direction of movement thereof, a brushing device supported within said mouth, connections between said wheels and said device whereby said device will be actuated by the movement of said wheels, and

a shield embracing said brushing device and;

head and journaled upon an axis transverse spaced from the km of the mouth so as to form a, narrow slot at each side of said brushing device transverse to the direction of movement of said head.

-10. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, in combination, a metallic casing havin an inverted V-shape in cross section, a cylindrical.

brush journaled in said casing upon a subi stantially horizontal axis, floor wheels carried by said casing, driving connections between said floor wheels and brush, a second V-shaped casing within said first casing and embracing said brush, said second casing having itsedges spaced from the forward and rearward edges of said first casing to .define a pair of narrow. elongated slits, the

sides of said casings being substantially f straight and diverging from each other as they recede from said slits.

11. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus the:

pair of spaced upright combination, with boxes and a metal 10 plate connectm said boxes and forming an elongated hea the adjacent sides of said boxes being formed with arcuate slots, of a cylindrical brush in said head and having a shaft extending through said slots, 3, second shaft journaled in said boxes at substantially the center of the circle defined by said slot, links in said boxes embracing both of said shafts intermeshing gears carried by said shafts, floor engaging wheels carried by the latter shaft,

and means for adjusting said shafts sepa-Q rately towards and from the floor.

12. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, the

combination, with a pair of spaced upright boxes and an inverted V-shaped plate connecting said boxes and forming a head, the

adjacent sides ofsaid boxes beingfqrmed with attaching vflanges with n the. of I I said first plate, of a second ll-shaped plate secured to saidflanges-and having its edges spaced from the edges of the first plate to form slits, agitating means beneath said second plate, a shaft extending through the inner wall of one of said boxes and connected to said agitating means, a second shaft jourand wheels carried b naled in each of said boxes parallel to said first shaft, intermeshing gears carried by said shafts, and floor engaging wheels car ried b the latter shaft.

13; n a vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination, with an electric motor and a fan casing secured to one end of said motor, said fan casing having an aperture in the side opposite said motor, of a su porting wheel carried by said motor, a hea having a flanged discharge ipe detachably connected to theforward ace of said fan caslng,

said head and cooperating with said st wheelto support said motor with its shaft substantially horizontal, I

14. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination, with an electric motor and a fan casing secured to one end of said motor, saidian casing having an aperture in the side opposite said motor, of a supporting wheel carried by said motor, a suction nozzle carried by the forward face of said fan casing, and floor-engaging supporting means carried by said nozzle and co-opersting with said wheel. to support said motor with its shaft substantially horizontal.

15. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a suction head having a pair of spaced parand narrow suction months, ,the distance between said mouths being of greater width than either of said mouths,-and a pair or fioor-engag carrying wheels journaled to said head, one at. each side thereof, upon axes. parallel to said mouths and between the vertical planes which include said mouths.

16. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, the

A combination of a casing having downwardly "take opening.

extending rear and forward walls, a rotatable brush supported within said walls, geans for revolving said brush a shield inosed between said brush and one of the we to form a narrow intake opening, the lower edge of said shield terminating at a higher level than the edges of said walls, and a suction device connecting with said in- 17 Ina. vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination of a casing having downwardly extending rear and forward walls, floor engaging wheels carried by said casing and yournalled upon an axis transverse to the direction of movement thereof, a cylindrical brush supported within said walls upon an. axis substantially parallel to that of said wheels, means for driving said brush and a shieldsurrounding said brush and spaced vmeans. for raising and lowering said relatlvely to saidnozzle so as to support nevaooe opening at the side of said brush and substantially parallel thereto, said shield depending below thecenter of said brush but terminating above the edges of said walls, and a suction device communicating withsaid opening.

18. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, the

combination of a casing having downwardly extending rear and forward walls, a rotatable brush journalled within said walls, a

pair of supporting wheels, pivoted to said casing, gearing connecting said wheels to said brush, means for adjusting said wheels and said shaft independently toward and from the lower edges of said walls, and means for preventing a change in the distance be tween said wheels and said brush.

19. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, the combination oi-a casing-having downwardly extending and diverging rear and forward walls, a trame adjustably secured to said casing and carrymg wheels journalled there:

.to, agitating devices located within said divergent walls and operatively connected to said carrying wheels, means for-raising and lowering said frame relatively to said casing so as to support said casing at different heights above the working surface, and suction producing means operatively connected to the inside of said casing.

20. In a vacupm cleaning apparatus, the combination of a casing having downwardly extending and diverging rear and forward .walls, floor engagin wheels carried by said casing and journal ed upon an axis transverse to the direction of movement thereof, a

brushing device supported within saidwalls, 7 connections between said wheels and said 7 device whereby said device will be actuated ice by the movement of said wheels, and a shield embracing said brushing device and said brushing device transverse to the directionofmovement' of said casing.

21.;ln. a suction cleaner, a casing, an

elongated nozzle carried thereby and transversely arranged relatively thereto, a frame adjustably secured to said nozzle, carrying wheel's journaled to said frame, agitating devices ldcated in said nozzle andoperatively connected to said carrying wheels, d

working surface.

22. In a suction cleaner, acollecting nozzlc and a movable frame therein, an agitatmg device carried by said frame, means for raising and lowering said frame relatively to said nozzle so as to support said agitating device at difierent heights above the work- ,s'urface, and carrying wheels for said nozzle.

awaooa 23. In a suction cleaner, a casing, an elongated nozzle carried thereby and transversely arranged I, relatively thereto, frame members movably secured to said nozzle, an agitating device carried by said frame members, means for raising and lowering said frame members relatively to said nozzle so as to'support said agitating device at different heights above the Working surface,

carrying wheels for said nozzle, and means for operating said agitating device .in all positions of its adjustment.

24. In a suction cleaner, a casing having a collecting nozzle formed with a downwardly facing inlet mouth vice movablz secured to. said casing, a rotatable brus journaled in said supporting device and movable therewith to a position either inside of or outside of said mouth, means for securin the said supporting device in varying a justed positions whereby said brush is adjusted relatively to said inlet mouth, carryin WILLIAM V. ORR:

, a supporting de- 

